The Dad Story Project
Encouraging fathers, one heart at a time
Being a good father is one of the greatest things a man can ever be. It’s also one of the hardest jobs he’ll ever have. The child arrives all warm and squirming, the starting gun goes off…and dad feels like he’s playing catch-up for the next 18 years. It’s the thing we want to do best, but it’s often lonely and frustrating, and sometimes we can get pretty insecure about it. Yet, Proverbs 27:17 says:
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
That’s the goal of THE DAD STORY PROJECT. To encourage each other by reading, writing, and sharing the stories of everyday fatherhood. To build a network of strength and support, and a legacy that can last forever. Please scroll down to learn more, and get involved… together, we’ll build a community!
Where do all the links in the top menu take me?
- Peter’s Blog—I will blog here about general project stuff, give exciting news about people like you who have joined the community, and I’ll also post sample stories from time to time. You will also find my Twitter and Facebook feeds here.
- Author Blog—This is the place to read encouraging and inspiring dad stories from guest authors just like you! We look forward to hearing your story, so get writing!
- The Uxorious Blog—This is a new blog devoted entirely to gushy stories that I’ve written about my wife, Karen. “Uxorious” means “exceeding fondness for a wife”, and if it was a disease, I’d be terminal. Warning: I can get a little gushy in here…
S. Peter Lewis
Christian, husband, father, friend; writer and founder of The Dad Story Project
Hello everyone! My name is Peter Lewis. That’s me with my wife of 32 years, Karen, and we’re both smiling because our kids are grown and out of the house (just kidding). Welcome to The Dad Story Project (TDSP). The dream of this ministry has been percolating in my head and heart for many years. I love being a father, and I love encouraging men to be wonderful dads—the greatest, honor, privilege, responsibility, challenge, and joy they will ever have. And I use the word “ministry” intentionally: the order of my life is Christian, husband, father, friend. And I am convinced that fatherhood is not just some coincidence of biology, but a calling from the Lord. I look forward to many hundreds of you, perhaps thousands, joining me in this movement to bring faith, courage, resolve, hope, and joy to fathers and families everywhere—by simply telling each other stories.
And so the years fly—here are the two best reasons in the world to start The Dad Story Project: my son, Jeremiah (with his daughter, Sophie), and my daughter, Amanda.
Our
Mission
The mission of The Dad Story Project is to honor fatherhood by being a safe, happy place on the web for families to find rest, inspiration, and strength. We’ll build a place to gain a moment’s pause in the midst of unrelenting busyness. To reflect on one of life’s hardest and most joyful callings—being a dad. To see that we’re all in this together, to find reassurance in our common struggles, and celebrate our successes. And we’ll do this through the wonder of storytelling and the life-changing power of words.
“We tell stories in order to live.” — Joan Didion
“No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.” — Lewis Carroll
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” — God
Here’s how TDSP works
Read
stories
Since 2006 I have been writing a column in my hometown newspaper. I write about the things that happen on our old farm in the Maine woods (blizzards, plumbing emergencies, etc.); but mostly I write about my family. The antics of my two children (Jeremiah, 30, and Amanda, 22) and the challenges my wife and I have faced staying one step ahead of them, have provided a constant source of literary inspiration, and explain why I have so little hair. The columns have won journalism awards almost every year. I’ll regularly post essays on the sample page and my blog.
I wanna read stuff
Musings of a middle-aged father
Write
stories
This is the most exciting part. I want the world to read YOUR stories. I want YOU to become a contributor to this dream. I want The Dad Story Project to become an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, community project that shows the world that EACH OF US has something wonderful to share about fatherhood. And everyone can contribute (no, you don’t have to be a dad). So go ahead, send me a story, and we may publish it here on the TDSP website. Let’s start a positive movement that will encourage parents and make the world smile!
I wanna write stuff
Musings of the rest of you
Buy
books
Based on award-winning essays
And on YOUR stories (in the near future)
I am in the process of turning all my fathering-related essays into e-Books available on Amazon. Volume I in The Dad Story Project book series, THE DAY WE BLEW UP THE CAT, and other stories from a normal childhood, was released January 2015. And to put you at ease, Oscar “the flaming cat” was not injured in the making of this story. He was a bit put off, as was my wife, who had to open the windows and air out the house. Each of the story’s three main characters—me, my son, and Oscar—learned valuable life lessons from this whole feline conflagration, and the story finally concluded about two decades later. If you’re wondering just how that can be, well, you’ll just have to buy the book!
I wanna buy books
The 2nd and 3rd books are available, too: just click the I Wanna Buy Books button to see them all!
© 2015 S. Peter Lewis • The Dad Story Project • All rights reserved
The amazing photograph of the father holding the feet of his child that graces the header of every page of this website was taken by my dear friend Jess Jolin. She’s an amazing photographer. Here’s her professional Facebook page. Thanks, Jess!